Baron stresses importance of foreign partnership in water resource management

Dominica is hosting a workshop on water management

Foreign Affairs Minister, Senator Francine Baron has said the establishment of partnerships with foreign countries in the area of water resource management is important to Dominica.

She made this remarks at the opening ceremony of a five-day workshop on the strengthening of water resource management held at the Fort Young Hotel on Monday. 

The workshop is funded by the Brazilian International Agency for Technical Cooperation (ABC).

“The establishment of partnerships with Brazil and other friendly countries in the important area of water resources management is important to the Commonwealth of Dominica,” she said.

She said the government has decided that Dominica’s endowment of water resources should enable it to come to the assistance of other Eastern Caribbean neighbors, during periods when they are experiencing water shortages.

“We are interested therefore in partnerships for building the infrastructure that permits this humanitarian aspect of our water policies,” she stated.
“Of course we also intend to build infrastructure for the export of raw and bottled water to foreign markets and see the private sector as having a key role in this regards.”

Meantime, Brazilian Charge D’ Affaires, Arnaldo Salabert Brazilians strongly believes that developing countries should work together to overcome difficulties and the workshop is an example of how it can be done.

“We must make every effort to share knowledge, skills, expertise and resources…,” he noted. “This workshop is a wonderful example of how it can be done through sharing of solutions.”

Salabert stated that there are clear benefits of this cooperation, “to develop a technology model adapted to our needs, to our climates, and to our islands; to help each other in relevant scientific research, and especially to increase the confidence in our own capacities”.

“Against all odds, our collective efforts will lead to a greater degree of participation in international, economic activities and it will promote the well-being of our nations. That’s why south-south cooperation is so important,” he said.

Salabert went on to say that water management is an essential factor to sustainable development.

“It depends on the existence of costly infrastructure, backed up by scientific knowledge, but it also depends on the existence of a framework of laws and regulations, and it also depends on consumer education,” he stated.

According to Salabert, the consumers must understand how to use water with responsibility and respect.

“Water may be cheap but it’s precious,” he said.

He noted that access to fresh water is a human right and to make that right effective, governments must plan in advance huge water supply projects for increasing populations living in large cities.

“Climate change, however, makes water supply more erratic and difficult to predict. That’s why worldwide, our options must consider including the reuse of waste water,” Salabert explained.

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11 Comments

  1. Chanter
    March 28, 2017

    Who is the Minister with the port folio? It surely is not Mrs. Francine Royer

  2. Dominican
    March 28, 2017

    We have two water bottling companies already and both are more expensive than imported water from Trinidad. I don’t see how we can be competitive in that market if we can not cut our costs. Bear in mind that the bottled water is even cheaper in Trinidad itself than here and even in Euro Guadeloupe and Martinique it is cheaper. Come with a really worked out plan with full costings and logistics and I may begin to believe you.

    • zandoli
      March 28, 2017

      Have you looked at the cost of bottling water in Trinidad vs. Dominica? Have you considered the volume of water that is sold in Trinidad vs Dominica? Have you considered the cost of doing business in Dominica vs Trinidad or Martinique?

      • Dominican
        March 29, 2017

        Yes and yes but at the end of the day the argument remains the same. If we can not be competitive even on our own market, we do not have a cat in hell’s chance to export. Why should people buy water from us, except in exceptional circumstances, if we can not compete internationally.

  3. Affa
    March 28, 2017

    DUH……
    I wonder why TnT water is cheaper here than local bottled water. Thanks to the Paros we don’t have public stand pipes any more otherwise I’d rather drink from public stand pipes. :cry: :oops:

  4. seeing the hypocrisy
    March 28, 2017

    “Of course we also intend to build infrastructure for the export of raw and bottled water to foreign markets and see the private sector as having a key role in this regards.” so which Dominican run and managed company willl be in charge of this and how much of the profits will remain in Dominica? We Dominicans need to keep our country Dominican.

  5. Fr. Franklyn Cuffy, C.Ss.R.
    March 28, 2017

    Foreign Affairs Minister, Senator Francine Baron has said the establishment of partnerships with foreign countries in the area of water resource management is important to Dominica.

    Well said, Senator Francine Baron, here in Trinidad & Tobago the Adopt-A-River programme Team is willing and ready to assist us in Dominica to better manage our watersheds in our Nature Isle. An effort is being made to gather River Advocates on the 22 April, International Mother Earth Day 2017,, at Rosalie Bay. We are hoping that from this event a training workshop will be set up to take the Adopt-A-River programme to the next level in Dominica.

    • Micki
      March 28, 2017

      Hi Father Franklyn
      Nice idea and proposal. But I dont think it will get a second thought by the Govr unless a big money talking and passing.

    • Tjebe fort
      March 28, 2017

      Francis, greetings. Why can’t you be here in Dominica with us brother? Nobody ever explained that to us and we need and answer, please.

    • zandoli
      March 28, 2017

      Fr. Cuffy you are too funny :lol: . Haven’t you seen the proliferation of residential plastic water tanks in Trinidad? Why do you think that is? The reliability of Dominica’s water supply is light years ahead of Trinidad’s. If anything we can teach them a thing or two about water management. As a matter of fact, given the work ethic in Trinidad, I would not want them coming near any of our projects.

      Sorry Rev.

      • Fr. Franklyn Cuffy, C.Ss.R.
        March 29, 2017

        Dear Zandoli, in Trinidad & Tobago there is the Adopt-A-River programme where Adoptees are trained and equipped to monitor the health of their watershed. In 2015, the Government of Trinidad & Tobago invested thirty-four million dollars($34,000,00:00) in this project.
        52 Leaders from 20 communities were trained for the first World Rivers Day here in 2016.
        In Dominica we have been observing World Rivers Day as designated by the United Nations, since 2005. Dr. Sharda Mahabir, an Environmental Biologist and her team who are spearheading the A.A..R. programme is available to assist us if necessary.

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